Ben van Berkel’s buildings are traffic stoppers; sweeping sci-fi edifices wrapped in kaleidoscopic, dot-matrix exteriors, high-rise moiré exoskeletons and ceramic plate stacks with op-art scoops for windows. Projects such as Five Franklin Place in New York’s Tribeca district, Austria’s Graz Music Theatre, the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, and Taiwan’s Talee Isetan building, all designed by Professor van Berkel’s Amsterdam-based UNStudio, define a new urban aesthetic, reimagining architecture as sculptural form and quickly characterising themselves as contemporary landmarks.

And now London has its own van Berkel landmark; Canaletto, a 31-storey tower adjacent to the City Road Basin, features a unique, curving façade of aluminium and glass that breaks the building’s volume into a series of three-to-five storey clusters.

Canaletto’s recently unveiled three-bedroom apartments, the Beaumont Collection, located on the building’s 25th to 28th floors, are modern sanctuaries with spectacular panoramic views through floor-to-ceiling glazed façades. The state-of-the-art amenities (swimming pool, gym, spa with treatment rooms, restaurant, private cinema and residents’ club) establish the building as a social and creative hub at the creative crossroads of Islington, Shoreditch, Clerkenwell and the City.

Wallpaper* Composed, our bespoke interior design service, was invited by Canaletto’s developers to create a distinctive furnishing scheme and tonal identity for one of the Beaumont Collection’s show apartments. Wallpaper* interiors director Amy Heffernan selected pieces by both established and up-and-coming designers, choosing to tell the story of a frequent-flying, constantly collecting, cultured resident who is design conscious and aesthetically aware.

The ‘Cosmopolitan Collector’ apartment boldly mixes new and old, incorporating quirky and classic items and acclaimed and naive artworks. The look is both eclectic and contemporary, revealing the Cosmopolitan Collector’s character as you move from room to room. This is high-rise luxe in the heart of east London.

As originally featured in the May 2017 issue of Wallpaper* (W*218)

The apartment’s living area, in muted tones of blue and beige, are dotted with plants by new online company, Patch, and art books published by Taschen and Laurence King. Pictured, Conn, by Joël Tettamanti, from Eyestorm; ‘Bellevue AJ7’ floor lamp, by Arne Jacobsen, reissued by & Tradition; ‘Cubo’ cabinet, by Theo Williams, for Another Brand; ‘D.154.2’ armchair, by Gio Ponti, for Molteni & C; vintage daybed, from The Peanut Vendor; ‘Palette’ desk, by Jaime Hayon, for &Tradition; and ‘Borg #04’ rug in Royal Blue, by Louise Roe. Photography: Matthew Donaldson

The living area. ‘Billy’ floor lamp, by Ilse Crawford, for Kalmar; ‘Pli’ side table, by Victoria Wilmotte, for ClassiCon; ‘Eloro’ sofa, by Rodolfo dordoni, for Cassina; ‘Romi’ wool fabric in Crème, by Pierre Frey; ‘Spanish’ chairs, by Børge Mogensen, for Fredericia; ‘45°’ coffee table, by Ron Gilad, for Molteni & C; and ‘The Moor’ rug, by All The Way To Paris, for &Tradition. Photography: Matthew Donaldson

The walk-in wardrobe. Fashion, by Cos; ‘Belleville’ Chair, by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, for Vitra; and ‘Pepe’ Mirror, by Studiopepe, for Menu. Photography: Ben Anders

The study area. ‘Palette’ desk, by Jaime Hayon, for &Tradition; ‘Rival’ chair, by Konstantin Grcic, for Artek; and ‘Borg #04’ rug in royal blue, by Louise Roe. Photography: Ben Anders

The adjoining dining and kitchen area. ’Kaari’ table, by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, for Artek; ‘Belleville’ chairs, by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, for Vitra; ‘Spanish’ chairs, by Børge Mogensen, for Fredericia; ‘Eloro’ sofa, by Rodolfo Dordoni, for Cassina; ‘Alfi’ bar stool, by Jasper Morrison, for Emeco; and ‘The Moor Rug’, by All The Way To Paris, for &Tradition. Photography: Ben Anders

The hallway. ‘Rietveld’ chair, by Gerrid Thomas Rietveld; ‘Speculum’ mirror table, by AYTM; curtains in ‘Riko’ in paper, from the Tomoko Collection, by Scion; ’Kaari’ table, by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, for Artek; and ‘Belleville’ chairs, by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, for Vitra. Photography: Ben Anders

The second bedroom. ‘Yale’ Bed, upholstered in ‘Soda’ fabric in ‘Deep Teal’ from Kirkby Design, by The Sofa & Chair Company; ‘Classic Hotel’ bed linen set by Tielle Love Luxury; ‘Samba’ throw in Grey by Klippan; ‘Font’ low tables by Sebastian Herkner for Pulpo; ‘The Standard’ table lamp by Sylvain Willenz for Menu; ‘Light Colore’ tumblers by Ichendorf; Wallpaper* City Guides published by Phaidon; ‘Riko’ in steel, from the Tomoko Collection, by Scion; ‘Confetti Grey’ wallpaper by Ferm Living; and ’Cream Tea’ carpet by Axminster

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